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June 10, 2014

Dandelion Debate

For many of us, it’s been something of a foregone conclusion
that dandelions are bad for our lawns.

Yet some lawn experts say it’s time to rethink our thinking
about those no-good dandelions. Maybe it’s time for a dandelion debate.

So what’s so great about dandelions? Those lawn experts who
are pro-dandelion point to the fact that the dandelion is an important part of
our ecosystem. They are often an early source of nutrients for honeybees during
the early days of spring.

Dandelions are also a great pollinating plant. Again, this
goes back to those honeybees. If honeybees go away, the pollinators go away and
the food cycle suffers.

Dandelions are also one of the weeds that attract and
provide food for butterflies? Everybody likes butterflies, right? When butterflies
find food, they are more likely to lay eggs in that area. This could result in more
butterflies in your garden.

There is also thought that dandelions are good for lawns
because of their roots. Dandelion roots are wide-spreading and help loosen
hard-packed soil, aerate the ground and reduce erosion.

Still, if dandelions are not your thing, put some thought
into how you are going to get rid of those dandelions. And think about planting other types of
plants or flowers that will attract the bees and the butterflies.

Instead of spraying pesticides to get rid of the dandelions,
try an herbicide instead.

You can also dig up dandelions by hand, but it can be difficult
to remove the entire root of the dandelion. If you decide to go this way, it’s probably
a good idea to incorporate a screwdriver or dandelion weeder as part of the
root removal process.

Blogmaster

Phil Goold is a retired landscaper of 30 years. He loves being outside more than anything else, except maybe pie. He enjoys connecting with other landscapers and gardeners because everyone brings something new and fun to the table. Connect with Phil on Twitter and Google+.